I recently sat in a meeting where a congregation was thinking about their central mission focus for the coming year. The congregation had recognized that somewhere along the way it had become lax in reaching out and since their mission statement talked about the transformation of their community they recognized that they needed to identify … Continue reading The Relational/Missional Dilemma
Author: Jay Voorhees
Jay Voorhees is a pastor, writer, and community activist located in Nashville, TN. Jay currently is the pastor of the City Road Chapel United Methodist Church in Madison, TN, and is engaged in helping to connect others to the example and teaching of Jesus Christ and to take seriously Christ’s call to love our neighbors in radical ways.
Jay is the co-founder of The MethoBlog, a site that aggregates the writings of Methodist-related bloggers throughout the world, and is the former managing editor of The United Methodist Reporter. Jay has been involved in the United Methodist Church at both the local and national level since 1988. Jay is also the owner of Only Wonder Media, a boutique book and media publisher.
The Benefit of Being Connectional
For several years now I have heard friends throughout the states belittle the value of denominations in our country. “We are in a post-denominational world” they say. “Denominational structures get in the way of ministry. Why do you continue on a a dying system?” There are many days when I agree with them, many days … Continue reading The Benefit of Being Connectional
Merry Christmas to All
...and to all a good night.
A Requiem for Henry
Long ago, back when I was just a kid, in the days when gospel music involved more polyester and pomade than guitars and drums, I stumbled into a place called Fellowship. By day, it pretended to be a bookstore, but on certain nights the books would be pushed aside, the pulsing fluorescent tubes would be … Continue reading A Requiem for Henry
The Congregational Footprint
One of the dangers we preacher folks tend to fall into when evaluating the ministries of our congregations is to focus on the metrics of participation, membership, and financial giving. There are good reasons for this, from denominational expectations around those numbers to the fact that these numbers have the most impact on our day … Continue reading The Congregational Footprint
Proverbial Ponderings – Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. I sometimes wonder if the church has been too focused on the first part of this verse, and completely ignored the second. Preachers like me are often very good and kindling the “fear of the LORD” in the … Continue reading Proverbial Ponderings – Proverbs 1:7
Proverbial Ponderings – Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. I sometimes wonder if the church has been too focused on the first part of this verse, and completely ignored the second. Preachers like me are often very good and kindling the “fear of the LORD” in the … Continue reading Proverbial Ponderings – Proverbs 1:7
A Prayer for Fort Hood
God of peace and presence, today the news shocked us again as bullets flew from a gun and vibrant lives were again lost. The persons in that processing center most likely weren’t too thrilled to be there. Of course they were servants, called to the task of representing their nation in battle, and so they … Continue reading A Prayer for Fort Hood
Trunk or Treat and Being Neighbors
Yes, I should be working on the sermon tonight, but as often happens I have to take a break to exercise the thoughts that burst forth when my mind goes into full gear. Tonight’s revolves around a comment Kay made earlier about the lack of “trick or treaters” in the neighborhood. Several years ago our … Continue reading Trunk or Treat and Being Neighbors
What The Titans Need to Do
Everyone seems to be piling on the Titans, but here is my game plan for their future. After all, what have they got to lose?
Song of the Moment — We Are One
This song just spewed forth from some deep places in where God is speaking to me. Some day I will get around to recording it so you can know the tune, but here are the lyrics: We Are One We are one gathered here together in your name. We are one Lifting up our hearts … Continue reading Song of the Moment — We Are One
A Blast from the Past — Methocast with Leo Laporte
A few years ago I had the bright idea of doing a regular podcast on United Methodist related stuff. I did around 20 or so until I ran out of steam, but my favorite was one featuring the head of the TWIT Network and former TechTV host Leo Laporte. Leo was kind enough to post … Continue reading A Blast from the Past — Methocast with Leo Laporte
A Prayer for Meharry
Ed. Note: Last week I was invited to offer the invocation at the opening convocation of the Meharry Medical College, a historic institution that has trained doctors for the African American community since 1876, located in Nashville, TN. This is the prayer that I offered at that event. Creating God, giver of life and sustainer … Continue reading A Prayer for Meharry
What’s Up In Worship
Phil Dillingham is a friend in ministry, a neighbor, and the pastor of the Priest Lake Christian Fellowship here in Antioch. Priest Lake is an interesting place, birthed in the charismatic renewal of the traditional Churches of Christ here in Nashville. It’s a place that doesn’t get much publicity, and Phil is a pastor who … Continue reading What’s Up In Worship
What’s Up In Worship
Phil Dillingham is a friend in ministry, a neighbor, and the pastor of the Priest Lake Christian Fellowship here in Antioch. Priest Lake is an interesting place, birthed in the charismatic renewal of the traditional Churches of Christ here in Nashville. It’s a place that doesn’t get much publicity, and Phil is a pastor who … Continue reading What’s Up In Worship
Slides from Presentation to “So You Want To Get Published” group
A “Fair” Review
The Tennessee State Fair opened last night, and as has become the tradition of the Voorhees household, daughter number two and I traveled down Nolensville Road, braved the muddy field parking lot, and found ourselves in the middle of a world filled with the smells of grilling onions and peppers, cotton candy, with a whiff … Continue reading A “Fair” Review
A “Fair” Review
The Tennessee State Fair opened last night, and as has become the tradition of the Voorhees household, daughter number two and I traveled down Nolensville Road, braved the muddy field parking lot, and found ourselves in the middle of a world filled with the smells of grilling onions and peppers, cotton candy, with a whiff … Continue reading A “Fair” Review
The Nashville Book Fail
Recently there has been a lot of stir, especially in the progressive community, over the Metro Nashville School systems failure to provide adequate books for students at John Early Middle School. This has led to an NAACP led law suit, which has garnered much press. It also led to folks opposed to the MNPS rezoning … Continue reading The Nashville Book Fail
The School Speech
In my last posting, I talked about the backlash of those who were upset that President Obama was giving a speech to public school students tomorrow. The concern seems to be that the speech would be political in nature, “indoctrinating” kids toward a more liberal (socialist?) point of view. I felt a little vindicated today … Continue reading The School Speech
Only Wonder Understands 